The Vikings are going through a retooling process as they head in 2024, though they still have one of football’s most exciting and electrifying players. Welcome back to another edition of ‘The Super Bowl Race In The Perspective of Chase’, and today we will preview the Minnesota Vikings 2024 season.
2023 Season
Going into 2023, not many knew what to expect from the Vikings. Because the year before they won an overachieving 13 games thanks to incredible play in one possession games, though lost in round one to Daniel Jones and the Giants. So things were unclear in Minnesota. And they continued to be, as they started 1-4 only to win five straight and be 6-4, most of those games without an injured Justin Jefferson. Rookie WR Jordan Addison showed major promise, which was part of the reason Minnesota picked up wins without JJETAS. But then Kirk Cousins goes down, Minnesota has to juggle between Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall as they finish 7-10 in one of the weirder seasons in recent memory.
Offseason Additions and Losses:
The major move in the offseason was the Vikings not bringing back Kirk Cousins, who was on an expiring contract. When he did play in 2023, he was exceptional…though he never reached the level Minnesota needed out of a franchise quarterback. Instead Cousins signs for $200 million with Atlanta, and the Vikings go out and draft Michigan national champion QB JJ McCarthy in the first round. He’s set complete with former No. 3 pick Sam Darnold for the QB1 spot. They also let go of star pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who went to Houston. But it’s not like they let go of veterans, drafted a rookie QB and restarted. Justin Jefferson is still in his prime and in Minnesota, while the Vikings also went out and added former Green Bay star running back Aaron Jones to this offense. So after several, non-connecting moves, Minnesota finds themselves with about the same talent but in a much different way than before.
X-Factor: Jordan Addison
There is a possibility Jefferson leaves Minnesota eventually if they’re not contending. They could get value for him and start a rebuild. In the meantime, the development and success of rising 2nd year receiver Jordan Addison is huge. Last year, Addison took 0n a major role while Jefferson was hurt and succeeded, going for over 62 yards per game and four total touchdowns, including a ten catch, 123 yard, two touchdown game in a win over San Francisco. For the season, he totaled 911 yards and ten touchdowns; not too shabby from a rookie wideout. Going into 2024, many expect him to do more of the same. But in my eyes, he has the potential to take his game to the next level. And if he does, it will add a whole other layer to this Vikings offense.
Reason for Concern: The Defense
Ever since Mike Zimmer left, this has been Minnesota’a problem. A previously defensive-heavy team now has one of the worst units in the NFL. Now after losing Danielle Hunter and Jordan Hicks–two of their best defensive players–in free agency, Minnesota will have to adjust. On defense, all Minnesota has is Harrison Smith, nowhere near his former self, and Bryon Murphy. They really have no one in the front-seven to make a difference after losing Hunter & Z’Darius Smith in back-to-back offseasons. For a team who was barley at the average point last season, I’m not expecting much from Kevin O’Connell’s defense.
Reason for Promise: The Offense
However, things look better on the other side of the ball. No matter who’s starting at QB, this Minnesota offense still has talent. We’ve been mentioning Addison, who’s going to take major strides in his game this year. But everyone keeps forgetting Justin Jefferson is the clear cut, best receiver in the NFL (including Tyreek Hill). He has the speed, the acceleration, the catching ability, the route running. The swagger. He’s got the whole package on and off the field, and he’ll be the league’s leading receiver this year. Even Aaron Jones though will help so much in the backfield, as Alexander Mattison couldn’t manage the run game on his own and Minnesota had one of the worst ones in football after getting rid of Dalvin Cook. This offense is their reason for hope in 2024.
Prediction
It’s hard to image though that Minnesota will do anything impactful this season. Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy don’t cut it at QB. This doesn’t even mention the defense. They have talent, but when your weaknesses are your quarterbacks and your defense, it’s hard to win football games. Plus, they find themselves in a very tough and competitive NFC North division. Minnesota will show some flashes, but nothing more in 2024, finishing 4th in the North.
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